Refrigerator having a device for preventing flow of air between an evaporator and a cooling compartment

Abstract

A refrigerator having a shutting device for preventing flow of air between an evaporator and a fresh food compartment is disclosed. The shutting device has a shutting member for shutting a space that the evaporator is installed against a cooling compartment, and a motor for driving the shutting member. During a defrosting operation and when the door is open, cool air discharge ports are closed by the shutting member. Thus, the temperature rise of the fresh food compartment due to the heat from a defrosting heater, and the loss of cool air and the generation of frost on the evaporator due to the opening of the door are prevented.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A refrigerator comprising: a body forming a cooling compartment;   an evaporator for generating cool air to be supplied into said cooling compartment by evaporating refrigerant;   a duct member forming a cool air duct for guiding the cool air generated from said evaporator, said duct member being formed with a plurality of cool air discharge ports opened in said cooling compartment;   a heater for defrosting said evaporator;   a door for opening/closing said cooling compartment;   a means for sensing opening and closing of said door;   a shutting member formed with a plurality of air holes and movable between a port-open position and a port-closed position for opening/closing said discharge ports, respectively:   a motor for driving said shutting member between said port-open and port-closed positions;   a power transmission for transmitting a power of said motor to said shutting member;   a shutter sensor for sensing a position of said shutter member, said shutter sensor including a reed switch installed at a lower part of said power transmission and a magnet installed at a lower part of said shutting member to drive said reed switch when said magnet travels adjacent thereto; and   control means for: controlling said motor to move said shutter member to said port-closed position during a defrosting operation of said heater and/or when said sensor senses said door being open,   stopping said motor in response to said sensor sensing said shutter member in said port-closed position, and   controlling said motor to move said shutter member to said port-open position after a delay following a defrosting operation, to enable the evaporator temperature to be reduced before air is supplied thereto.     
     
     
       2. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a fan for blowing the cool air generated by said evaporator into said cooling compartment; wherein said control part controls said fan so that operation of said fan is stopped when said door is open.   
     
     
       3. The refrigerator according to claim 1 wherein said shutter member comprises a plate arranged for vertical sliding movement against a surface of said duct member through which said cool air discharge ports are formed.